Advocates, Savino knock Cuomo's medical marijuana trial

Groups and lawmakers in support of the legalization of medical marijuana in New York criticized a plan today by the state Health Department to partner with a British pharmaceutical company to host clinical trials for a form of medical marijuana.

Sen. Diane Savino, D-Staten Island, who is sponsoring the legislation, said the trial is "not the answer."

"It’s produced very limited benefit in the trials that have existed," she said. "But more importantly, assuming it would work, it would only provide a treatment option for a very small segment of people compared to the Compassionate Care Act, which would provide options for tens of thousands of New Yorkers."

The legislative session ends June 19, and the medical marijuana bill appears to be one of the issues that could get resolved before lawmakers leave until January.

While some Senate Republicans have supported the Compassionate Care Act, it doesn't have broad support within the conference and it's unclear whether it would come to the floor for a vote. Some Republicans have indicated they would support medical marijuana except in the smokeable form.

The Drug Policy Alliance knocked Cuomo's announcement of the trial. The Democratic governor first proposed in January a limited legalization of medical marijuana, but he hasn't indicated whether he would support the Compassionate Care Act.

“It’s time to stop playing politics with our kids’ lives. My daughter Julia doesn’t need research, she needs a workable medical marijuana system," said Christine Emerson of Rochester, whose daughter suffers from life-threatening seizures, in a statement. "An Epidiolex trial and the 30 year-old Olivieri proposal will help few, if any, New Yorkers."